Multiplex Bamboo

Plant in full sun in sandy to loamy soil with good drainage; if you have clay, you need a raised bed with generous amounts of sand and humus or compost worked in. Bamboo needs plenty of moisture, especially when young, so water every other day for the first month, and when it gets dry thereafter. Fertilize in spring and late summer with a slow release fertilizer. For a hedge, space your plants on 4- foot centers. They like a mulch, so leave the fallen foliage at the base of your plants and add a couple of inches of additional mulch each year.

Pruning: If you wish to keep your plants at a certain height, prune in late summer or fall. Once a part is cut, it will not grow back, which makes it easy to control the height of your plants. Cut at the height you wish, pruning just above the nearest node (the distinct line, often a little bulging, that divides the sections of the bamboo stem, or culm). You will need to prune each year, as new shoots emerge annually. Remove dead stems on an annual basis.